Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ― Tax dollars could be used to fund neighborhood improvements tied to the renovation of Wrigley Field, but the stadium deal will not go to the Legislature until the mass transit crisis is resolved, a statewide capital plan is approved and the casino gambling issue is decided, a top official said Friday.

"If restoration includes things for the neighborhood -- like parking -- then using tax dollars for that would not be inappropriate," said former Gov. James R. Thompson, chairman of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority, the state agency that built U.S. Cellular Field and could acquire and renovate Wrigley.

But, Thompson warned, "That can't happen until all of these other issues are settled. They [state lawmakers] would look at me and say, 'You're crazy. We have to get those three other things first.'"

New Tribune Co. CEO Sam Zell said this week he hopes to sell the Cubs and the stadium by opening day, March 31. But Zell said he has delayed the sale of the team until he determines prospects for a state acquisition of Wrigley that he called "very beneficial" for the Cubs, the city, the state and the "future of Major League Baseball in this city."

Thompson's three preconditions would appear to run contrary to Zell's speedy timetable, but not necessarily.

If the Springfield logjam breaks, Thompson said ISFA could acquire Wrigley and decide later whether and how to restore the 93-year-old stadium.

Referring to Zell, Thompson said, "He's the seller. I'm waiting for him to tell me what he wants for Wrigley Field. Then we can say 'yes' or 'no.' . . . The less the ballpark costs, the more resources [from future rent and naming rights] we could use for restoration."

Thompson said Wrigley "desperately needs restoration," but he won't know how much it would cost or how it would be financed until the Cubs' new owners decide how far they want to go and until architects and engineers do an inspection of the stadium.

So far, ISFA-hired engineers have conducted only a cursory inspection of the landmark stadium that had several episodes of falling concrete in 2004.

Whatever happens, the restoration "won't do anything to interfere with the character and charm" of Wrigley and the work would be completed during several off-seasons, Thompson said.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported last week that Zell stands to receive a huge up-front payment for Wrigley -- tens of millions more than he might otherwise receive selling the stadium privately -- by having ISFA use its power to issue longer-term, tax-exempt bonds at a reduced interest rate.

The bonds would be retired by 30 years of stadium rent from a new owner who would sign a commitment to remain at Wrigley during that time.

On Friday, Thompson said he has no problem with a deal that would also enrich Tribune Co.

"Didn't the U.S. Cellular Field deal help the White Sox? Didn't the Soldier Field deal help the Bears? Didn't the United Center deal help the Bulls and Blackhawks? Why leave the Cubs out?" the former governor said. "I think ISFA should own Wrigley Field and restore it."

Zell has talked about selling the naming rights to Wrigley to generate millions for stadium renovations. But Thompson predicted that a naming rights deal would not be nearly so lucrative. There would be a "strong push to keep the name Wrigley Field" attached to the new corporate moniker, diminishing the value of such a sponsorship, he said.

"He's [Zell] the seller. I'm waiting for him to tell me what he wants for Wrigley Field. Then we can say 'yes' or 'no.' 

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(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)